Laundry marker attacher



-WWMWMWHMV March 20, 1934. HANNEY 1,951,480

LAUNDRY MARKER ATTACHER Original Filed March 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l A IN VENTOR Ayw" f 64mm March 20, 1934. A. F. HANNEY LAUNDRY MARKER ATTACHER Original Filed Ma ch 10, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Argus f. Hui/e7 March 20, 1934. N Y 1,951,480

LAUNDRY MARKER ATTACHER Original Filed Match 10, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE LAUNDRY MARKER ATTACHER Application March 10, 1930, Serial No. 434,581 Renewed June 19, 1933 12 Claims.

My invention relates to a laundry marker attacher and, particularly, to apparatus for attaching metallic identification clips to laundry goods.

The type of metallic identification clip used in conjunction with the mechanism hereinafter described consists of a U-shaped spring metal clip whose opposing free ends normally contact with each other and are provided with cooperating gripping elements for engaging the goods to be laundered. Such free ends are also provided with jaw receiving sockets by means of which they may be engaged and spread apart for the reception of the goods to which they are to be attached. A portion of each clip is also provided with a check perforation to fit or correspond with a cooperating key-bar which is adapted to receive a given number of clips and consists of a bar of suitable length.

Heretofore, such metallic identification clips have been attached to the goods by means of specially constructed hand pliers or manually operated tools which was slow and tedious work. It is the object of my invention to provide a means for automatically feeding single marking clips to an apparatus; to provide an apparatus of such nature that the opposing free ends of the clip will be engaged and separated for the reception of a piece of goods and then released so that the clip is returned to its original position if no goods are placed between the clipping members thereof, all of the'se features being embodied in a simple, durable, and yet very eflicient device.

Further objects of my invention may be seen in the following detailed description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the opposing side of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are sectional diagrammatical views showing the marking clip and the means for engaging such clip in different operative positions.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the clip containing magazine in a position for the insertion of a clip laden key-bar thereinto.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the cooperation between a marking clip magazine and a marking clip feeding means to move successive clips from the magazine to the operating station of the apparatus.

Figs. 10 and 11 are views showing the type of marking clip employed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 have shown one embodiment of my invention as comprising a means for feeding single clips into position for being operated upon by suitable mechanism adapted to separate the free ends of such clip, and a mechanism for separating the free ends of the clip, all mounted upon a pedestal 1 having a base 2. The pedestal '1 carries the actuating means 1 for the clip spreading mechanism which comprises a foot lever 3 pivoted at 4 on the base 2 and connected by link 5 to a lever 6 pivoted at 'l on the pedestal. The link 8 connects lever 6 to a cam plate 9 vertically slidable in guideways in the 10 pedestal 1 and held in such guideways by a retaining plate 10. A spring 11 tends to maintain the foot lever 3 in its uppermost position against an adjustable limiting stop 13.

With this construction, it will be apparent that each time the foot lever 3 is moved downwardly against the upward pull of the spring 11, the vertically slidable cam plate 9 will be moved downwardly, the cam plate being moved upwardly by action of the spring when the lever 3 is relieved from depressing force. As shown, the cam plate 9 is provided with two angular cam slots 14 and 15 with which rollers 16 and 17 respectively cooperate and by means of which such rollers are actuated, the slots 14 and 15 being so arranged with f respect to the vertical movement of the cam plate that the rollers will be moved in opposite directions each time the cam plate is moved downwardly or upwardly by the actuating means just described.

The roller 16 is loosely mounted on the end of a boss extending laterally from a lever 18 which is pivotally mounted as at 19 in the hollow interior of the upper part of the pedestal l. A transverse extension 20 is provided on the upper free end of the lever 18 and is adapted to interflt with a bifurcated depending lug 21 on the lower side of a slide 22 which is mounted for reciprocation horizontally in suitable guideways. With this construction, movement of the cam plate 9 1 0 downwardly will move the lever 18 and member 22 to the left as shown in Fig. 1, while upward movement of the cam plate will result in movement of the sliding member 22 in the opposite direction.

The roller 17 is pivotally mounted on the free end of a bell crank lever 23 which is pivoted as at 24 in a bracket 25 secured to the pedestal l. The remaining free end of the bell crank lever 23 is pivotally connected to one end of a floating frame 26, which is, in turn, pivotally mounted adjacent its opposing end on the pedestal 1 by means of links 27 which are spaced apart and pivotally mounted on suitable bearing blocks 28, disposed on the pedestal 1. A pin 29 extends entirely through the floating frame 26 and the links 2'7 to form the pivotal connection between the floating frame and the links.

The central portion of the front end of the frame 26 is cut away to provide a notch in which a. block 31 is disposed, the block 31 being pivotally mounted on the pin 29 and carrying a jaw 33 which is adapted to engage the upper socket 34 on a marking clip when the clip is positioned as in Fig. 4.

Such jaw 33 is moved into engagement with the jaw socket 34 by downward movement of the cam plate 9 which results in downward and forward movement of the floating frame 26 through the medium of the bell crank lever 23, cam slot 15 and the pivotal connection hereinbefore described. To provide a means for preventing breakage of parts should the jaw 33 contact with an obstruction or be otherwise prevented from entering the jaw socket 34, the jaw block 31 is resiliently held downwardly against the bottom of the notch 30 in the forward end of the floating frame 26 by a compression spring 35. Referring to Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, it will be seen that the jaw block 31 will be positively turned contra-clockwise by a contra-clockwise movement of the floating frame 26 since it is resting on the bottom of the notch 30 but that, due to the resilient downward pressure of the compression spring 35, the block 31 will be resiliently moved clockwise by clockwise movement of the floating frame 26. With this construction, such resiliency is provided for the jaw block as to prevent injury to the mechanism in the event that the jaw 33 contacts with an obstruction in its clockwise movement and that, on a contra-clockwise movement of the floating frame, the block 31 will be returned to and maintained in its normal position by the action of the spring.

The sliding member 22 that is adapted to be reciprocated horizontally by the downward movement of the cam plate 9 embodies a relatively low forward portion and a relatively high rearward portion, the shoulder 36 between such portions being of substantially the same contour as the rearward bent end of the marking clip of the type described, and of such nature as to prevent the rearwardmost end of the clip from moving upwardly away from the shoulder during its conveyance from the magazine to its attaching position.

The shoulder 36, see Figs. 7 and 9, is normally back of the lowermost clip in the apparatus for automatically supplying clips to the machine so that successive clips will position themselves by force of gravity on the low portion of the slide just in front of the shoulder 36 and in a position to have the socket 40 engaged by the jaw 41 by forward movement of the slide relative to the clip, each time the sliding member is moved rearwardly or to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, by depression of the foot lever 3 and downward movement of the cam plate 9 as hereinbefore described.

The apparatus for automatically supplying successlve clips to the sliding member 22 embodies a magazine 37 which is adapted to receive a clip laden key-bar, the key-bar having a predetermined number of clips thereon. Such clip laden key-bar is placed within the magazine 37 which rests within a depression 38 whose contour coincides with the lower end of the magazine to insure that the magazine will be in its proper position and the key-bar is so positioned that successive clips thereon will gravitate into the low portion of the slide 22 each time such portion is moved under the lower end of the magazine.

In the operation of this device the sliding member 22 is moved rearwardly by the upward movement of the foot lever and cam plate and corresponding movement of the cooperating mechanism until the lower portion of the slide is in a position for receiving one of the clips from the magazine 37. This is the normal inoperative position of the machine. Then, downward movement of the cam plate 9 by depression of the foot lever 3 will cause a forward movement of the sliding member 22 to carry the clip into the position shown in Fig. 4 and until the forward end of the clip strikes against a stop 39 on the frame and the clip is held stationary while the member 22 continues its movement to positively engage the lower socket 40 and the jaw 41 on the sliding member 22 and position the rearwardmost end of the clip against the shoulder 36 whereby the clip is securely held on the sliding member, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Of course, the weight of the next succeeding clips on the lowermost clip resting on the slide as shown in Fig. 9 may hold the clip so that the jaw 41 engages the socket 40 and the rounded bent end of the clip engages the shoulder, before the clip is moved from under the supply magazine. Depression of the foot lever 3 and downward movement of the cam plate 9 causes a forward, downward and then upward movement of the floating bar 26 which carries the jaw 33 simultaneously with the forward movement of the sliding member. The relative movement of the sliding member and the floating bar are so timed by the shape of the cam slots 14 and 15 that the upper jaw 33 will engage the upper jaw socket 34 in the clip immediately after the clip has been brought to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in which it is securely held on the sliding member at the operating station. Then, the upward movement of the jaw member 33 caused by continued downward movement of the cam plate 9, the sliding member 22 remaining stationary as regards horizontal movement due to the shape of the cam slot 14, will cause the free ends of the clip member to be separated as shown in Fig. 6 whereby a piece of goods 60 may be inserted between the free ends of such clip member. Relieving the foot lever 3 of force will then permit upward movement of the cam plate 9 by the action of the spring 11 as hereinbefore described whereby the sliding member 22 and the floating bar 26 will be moved in the reverse direction to that just described, the jaws 33 and 41 will move out of the jaw sockets 34 and 40, and the clip, whose free ends have closed together as shown in Fig. 7 to engage the piece of goods, may be moved out of the device by the simple expedient of withdrawing the goods. Then depression of the foot lever 3 will cause another cycle of operations on a successive clip from the magazine 37 similarly to that just described.

To make it more convenient for an operator to place a key-bar with clips thereon into the magazine and also to assure the operator that no clips remain in the magazine, such magazine is mounted on pivotal pins 42 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8, the pins being disposed some distance above the lowermost end of the magazine. As shown,

-(see Fig. 4).

such magazine is made in a. rectangular trough shape and is so pivotally mounted that it may be moved upwardly to bring the lower end thereof out of engagement with the depression 38 by means of the slots 43 and swung to the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein a clip laden key-bar may be readily placed therein. Such magazine is normally maintained in its locked position by gravity and clips are normally prevented from falling out of the magazine by clip supporting ledges 45. The key-bar may be provided with the usual stop near its upper end and may be provided with perforations or pins adapted to register with pins or perforations in the magazine so as to prevent relative movement between the key-bar and the magazine. In this construction a looking bar 44 is provided atthe upper end of the magazine to prevent the clip key bar from being withdrawn out of the upper end of such magazine and to maintain the key-bar in proper position within the magazine It will be noted that the high portion of the slide 22 is sufficiently long at its rearwardmost end to lie under the magazine 37 when the slide is in its forwardmost position with the marking clip in a position to be operated upon by the mechanism just described. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. Thus, the rearwardmost end of the slide 22 will support the remaining clips in the magazine so that should the slide return to its normal backward position with an unused clip thereon, the clip would be returned to its former position as the lowermost clip in the magazine. To thus return the unused clip to the magazine, the slide 22 is provided with a short vertical extension 46 at its forwardmost end which normally extends beyond the stop 39 when the slide 22 is in its forwardmost position. I

However, an experienced operator will usually operate the machine at such speed that the vertical extension 46 will strike the clip with such force on its return movement as to throw the clip entirely off the slide whereupon the slide moves from under the clip. To'prevent the clip from falling to the bottom of the hollow pedestal 1 where it would be inconvenient to recover the clip, an integral partition 47' is provided in the upper end of the pedestal and arranged on an incline from the back toward the front to serve as a chute for the clips and ultimately deposit such clips in a cup or receptacle 48 on the pedestal and extending outwardly therefrom.

Referring to Figs. 4 to '7 inclusive of the drawings, the mechanism and connecting parts between the foot lever 3 and the jaws 33 and 41 as hereinbefore described are such that when the foot lever is depressed, the clip isfirst fed forward against the stop 39 whereby the lower socket 40 is engaged by the jaw 41 and the rearwardmost end of the clip is engaged by the shoulder 36 Then, continued depression of the foot lever 3 moves the jaw 33 downwardly and forwardly and into engagement with the upper jaw socket 34 on the clip as shown in Fig. 5 and further downward movement of the foot lever 3 and cam plate 9 causes the jaw 33 to move upwardly to separate the free ends of the clip so that a piece of cloth 40 may be inserted therein as shown in Fig. 6. Removal of force from the,

foot lever 3 will permit the respective parts of the apparatus to return to their normal positions wherein the jaw members 33 and 41 will be moved out of the cooperating jaw sockets 34 and 40' and the clip which is attached to the goods may be removed from the machine by being lifted out of the path of the short vertical extension 46 on the slide.

To guard against the goods being pulled backward with the clip in the event that it is'not lifted above the vertically extending portion 46, the floating bar 26 is provided with depending prongs 47, one on either side of the guides for the slide 22 and disposed a short distance to the rear of the vertical plane in which the upper jaw 33 lies. Such prongs extend below the lever of the lower jaw 41 and perform the double function of preventing the goods from being fed too farinto the clip and to lift the goods and clip over the short vertical extension 46 should the operator fail to do so.

An upper guide or guard 50 is rigidly secured to the floating frame 26 and has its forward depending end locked forward of the upper jaw 33 in such position that it will contact with the upper side of the front end of the clip when the jaw 33 is in the upper jaw socket 34. This is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Such guide or guard serves the double duty of preventing the goods from being fed to the machine above the clip and preventing opening or spreading of the free ends of the clip too far. An adjustable stop 51 is provided on the rearward side of the mechanism and serves a purpose of limiting the rearward movement of the slide 22. Also, an adjustable stop 52 is provided on the pedestal 1 to limit the downward movement of thecam plate 9. Obviously, the stop 13 for limiting the upward movement of the foot lever 3 and the stop 51 for limiting the rearward movement of the slide 22 must be adjusted together since they both limit the action of the moving parts in the same direction.

A small projecting shelf 53 is provided on the forward side of the machine in such position as to provide a support for the goods that are to be inserted between the free ends of a. clip'and a 116 bracket 54 is provided on the rearward side of the machine as a means for supporting supply of clip laden key-bars to be inserted into the magazme.

Referring to the drawings and the preceding 12 description, it will be seen that I have provided a device for automatically feeding single clips to a machine, and a mechanism for engaging the op-- posing sides of each clip and spreading the free ends thereof so that goods may be inserted therebetween. Thus, I have provided an automatic mechanism for attaching marking clips to goods.

What I claim is: y

' 1. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of such a clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip..a support for one-of said jaws, and mechanism for moving said support to convey a clip to a'point of operation thereon and for causing the jaw carried by said support to engage a clip leg. said mechanism being effective to so move said other jaw as to cause it to ngage the other clip leg and to effect a separation of the free ends of said legs.

2. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising a jaw adapted to engage one of ,thelegs of such a clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, a. support for one of said jaws, mechanism for moving said support longitudinally to convey a clip toa point of operation thereon and for causing the jaw carried by said support to engage a clip leg, said mechanism being effective to so move said other jaw as to cause it to engage the other clip leg to effect a separation of the free ends of said clip legs, and means for automatically supplying successive clips to said support.

3. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising a jaw adapted to engage one of the legs of such a clip, a jaw adapted to engage the other leg of said clip, and mechanism to successively'convey clips from a point of supply to a point of operation thereon and to move one of said jaws longitudinally to cause it to engage one of said clip legs and to move the other jaw downwardly, forwardly and then upwardly to cause said jaw to engage the other clip leg and to effect a separation of the closed free ends of said clip legs.

4. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising clip feeding means, means adapted to convey individual clips from said feeding means to a point at which the closed free ends of such a clip are to be separated, a jaw engageable with one leg of said clip by movement of said conveying means, and another jaw actuatable to engage the other leg of said clip and then to move said leg to effect a separation of the free ends of said clip legs.

5. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising clip feeding means, means adapted to convey individual clips from the feeding means to a point at which the free ends of such clip are to be separated, a jaw engageable with one leg of said clip by movement of said conveying means, another jaw for engaging the other leg of said clip, and means for moving said last named jaw in an arcuate path to cause it to engage said clip leg and then to effect a separation of the free ends of said clip legs.

6. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising clip feeding means, means adapted to convey individual clips from said feeding means to a point at which the free ends of such a clip are to be separated, a jaw engageable with one leg of said clip by movement of said conveying means, another jaw for engaging the other leg of said clip, and actuating means including a cam for so moving said last named jaw as to cause it to engage said clip leg and then to effect separation of the free ends of said clip legs.

7. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising clip feeding means, means adapted to convey individual clips from said feeding means to a point at which the free ends of such a clip are to be separated, a jaw engageable with one leg of said clip by movement of said conveying means, another jaw for engaging the other leg of said clip, and means for moving said last mentioned jaw downwardly, forwardly and then upwardly to cause it to engage a clip leg and then to effect separation of the free ends of the clip legs.

8. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising clip feeding means, means adapted to convey individual clips from said feeding means to a point at which the free ends of such a clip are to be separated, a jaw engageable with one leg of said clip by movement of said conveying means, another jaw for engaging the other leg of said clip, and actuating means including a cam for moving said last mentioned jaw downwardly, forwardly and then upwardly to cause it to engage said clip leg and then to effect separation of the free ends of the clip legs.

9. Apparatus for separating the closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said leg free ends being normally urged toward each other, said apparatus comprising clip feeding means, means adapted to convey individual clips from said feeding means to a point at which the free ends of the clip are to be separated, means engageable with one leg of said clip by clip conveying movement of said conveying means for maintaining saidleg stationary, and means actuatable to engage the other leg of said clip and then to move said leg to effect the separation of the free ends of said clip legs.

10. Apparatus for separating the normally closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising means for conveying individual clips to a point at which the free ends of such a clip are to be separated, means engageable with that end of a clip opposite the free ends thereof for securing said clip end against vertical displacement, means engageable with one leg of said clip by clip conveying movement of said conveying means for maintaining said leg stationary, and means actuatable to engage the other clip leg and then to move said leg to effect separation of the free ends of said clip legs.

11. Apparatus for separating the normally closed free ends of the legs of a marking clip, said apparatus comprising means for conveying individual clips to a point at which the free ends of such a clip are to be separated, means including an arcuate shoulder on said conveying means engageable with that end of a clip opposite the free ends thereof for securing said clip end against vertical displacement, means engageable with one leg of said clip by clip conveying movement of said conveying means for maintaining said leg stationary, and means actuatable to engage the other clip leg and then to move said leg to effect a separation of the free ends of said clip legs.

12. Apparatus for attaching marking clips of the class described to laundry goods comprising, means for conveying clips to an attaching station, a magazine for supplying clips to said conveying means, means for separating the free ends of the legs of said clips while positioned at said station, and means for closing the free ends of unused clips and for returning them from said attaching station to said magazine.

ANGUS F. HANNEY. 

